Apparatus for supporting a standing person

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supporting a standing person includes a foldable base assembly, a collapsible and extensible upright assembly, and an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights. The engagement assembly includes a pair of collapsible support bars. The upright assembly has a pair of uprights that each include a lower portion connected to the base assembly and an upper portion that supports the engagement assembly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/343,661 filed May 19, 2022 entitled “Apparatus for Supporting a Standing Person” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/405,246 filed Sep. 9, 2022, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to personal support devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a leaning stand for supporting a standing person.

BACKGROUND

For as long as humans have been standing, they have leaned against trees, rocks, and buildings for support. Recent research indicates that sitting for extended periods can lead to profound health impairments. Compared to standing or moving, sitting uses less energy and slower metabolism. Studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time may increase the risk of obesity and related health conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and elevated cholesterol levels. In fact, excessive sitting has also been correlated with non-metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

In view of this research, there is renewed interest in encouraging people to sit less and stand more. Standing desks have become a fixture in modern offices because they allow workers to stand while reading, typing, talking on the phone, and carrying out other office-based tasks that have been traditionally associated with desks and chairs. Although a number of accoutrements have been developed for promoting standing activities in the workplace, there remains an unmet need for equipment that can be used to promote standing in other situations. It is to these and other deficiencies in the prior art that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, where the apparatus includes a base assembly resting on the surface, an upright assembly, and an engagement assembly. The upright assembly includes a pair of uprights that each include a lower portion connected to the base assembly and an upper portion. The engagement assembly is supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights.

In other embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface. The apparatus includes a base assembly resting on the surface, an upright assembly and an engagement assembly. The upright assembly includes a pair of uprights that each include a lower portion connected to the base assembly and an upper portion. The engagement assembly is supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights.

In yet other embodiments, the present disclosure is directed at an apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, where the apparatus includes a foldable base assembly resting on the surface, a collapsible and extensible upright assembly, and an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights. The engagement assembly includes a pair of collapsible support bars. The upright assembly has a pair of uprights that each include a lower portion connected to the base assembly and an upper portion that supports the engagement assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus that includes a height-adjustable upright assembly in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus that includes a height-adjustable upright assembly in an extended position.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus that includes a retracted upright assembly and a deployed engagement assembly.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the personal leaning apparatus of FIG. 4 in which the upright assembly and the engagement assembly are deployed.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the personal leaning apparatus of FIG. 4 , with the upright assembly and engagement assembly retracted.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the personal leaning apparatus of FIG. 4 , with the upright assembly and the engagement assembly folded.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the personal leaning apparatus of FIG. 4 , with the upright assembly and the engagement assembly are folded and retracted.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus without upper support bars.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective of a fifth embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus without upper support bars that includes a height-adjustable upright assembly in a contracted position.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective of the embodiment of the personal leaning apparatus of FIG. 10 that includes a height-adjustable upright assembly in an extended position.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective of a sixth embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus without upper support bars that includes a height-adjustable and collapsible upright assembly.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus that includes an alternate folding mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus that includes an alternate folding mechanism.

WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a personal leaning apparatus 100. The personal leaning apparatus 100 is generally configured to partially support a person (not shown) while standing in, or near, the personal leaning apparatus 100. As explained herein, the personal leaning apparatus 100 is well suited to promote comfortable standing in a fixed location.

The personal leaning apparatus 100 includes a base assembly 102, an upright assembly 104 and an engagement assembly 106. The base assembly 102 is configured to be supported by the floor or another solid surface. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , the base assembly 102 includes side members 108 that are connected by cross members 110. The side members 108 and cross members 110 are substantially coplanar and form an “A” frame that includes an opening 112 on one end of the base assembly 102 to permit the user to step into the base assembly 102. The base assembly 102 may include feet (not shown) on the underside of the side members 108 and the cross members 110. The feet can be height adjustable through a common threaded-bolt mechanism and can include high-friction wear surfaces to better position the base assembly 102 in a stationary location on wooden, concrete or tile floors.

The upright assembly 104 extends upward from the base assembly 102. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , the upright assembly 104 connects to the base assembly 102 at an approximately perpendicular relationship. The upright assembly 104 includes two uprights 114 that can each be secured to a corresponding one of the side members 108, or to the central cross member 110. Thus, each upright 114 includes a lower portion 116 secured to the base assembly 102 and an upper portion 118 that supports the engagement assembly 106. It will be appreciated that this convention applies to the upright assembly 104 such that the upright assembly 104 also includes an upper portion and a lower portion (not separately designated).

The engagement assembly 106 is designed for engagement with the user. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , the engagement assembly 106 includes a center beam 120 and a pair of support bars 122. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , the support bars 122 and center beam 120 are each connected to the uprights 114. In other embodiments, the support bars 122 are connected to the center beam 120 rather than the uprights 114. In other embodiments, the support bars 122 are each connected to a corresponding one of the uprights 114, but the center beam 120 is connected between the support bars 122. In some embodiments, the engagement assembly 106 includes more than one center beam 120.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 , the support bars 122 are omitted from the engagement assembly 106. In this embodiment, the engagement assembly includes the center beam 120 connected to the uprights 114. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 also includes one or more light modules 148, which are configured to illuminate the floor or to provide a decorative display.

Turning back to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , each of the side members 108, cross members 110, uprights 114, center beam 120 and support bars 122 is manufactured from standard square metal tubing, and each member is connected to the adjacent member with mechanical fasteners (e.g., bolts), welds, adhesives, or other bonding technologies. In other embodiments, some or all of the side members 108, cross members 110, uprights 114, center beam 120 and support bars 122 are manufactured from wood, plastic, or composites like carbon fiber.

During use, a person can stand inside base assembly 102 and lean against or on the engagement assembly 106. The person can stand in the personal leaning apparatus 100 facing the center beam 120 or facing away from the center beam 120. The person can rest their arms on the support bars 122 or grasp the support bars 122 with their hands to offload a portion of their weight to the personal leaning apparatus 100. In embodiments of the personal leaning apparatus without support bars 122, the person can rest their arms on the center beam 120 or grasp the center beam 120 with their hands to offload a portion of their weight to the personal leaning apparatus 100. The personal leaning apparatus 100 can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes so the height of the uprights 114 and the width of the cross members 110 and center beam 120 can accommodate people of various heights and widths.

Turning to FIGS. 2-3 , shown therein is an embodiment in which the personal leaning apparatus 100 is height-adjustable. FIGS. 10-11 show an embodiment of the personal leaning apparatus 100 which is height-adjustable in which the support bars 122 are omitted from the engagement assembly 106. In each of these embodiments, the uprights 114 each include an upright outer tube 124 and an upright inner tube 126 that are telescopically arranged such that the upright inner tube 126 slides inside the upright outer tube 124. Nylon or other bearings (not shown) can be used to provide a reduced friction interface between the upright outer tube 124 and the upright inner tube 126. The extent to which the upright outer tube 124 and upright inner tube 126 are telescopically deployed can be selectively fixed by using an upright locking mechanism 128 in the upright inner tube 126 that engages mating apertures 130 in the upright outer tube 124. The locking mechanism 128 can be a spring-loaded lock-button can be used to selectively engage and disengage the apertures 130 to lock the upright inner tube 126 and upright outer tube 124 together at a specific length.

Thus, as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 10 , each upright inner tube 126 is at least partially contained within the corresponding outer tube 128. In contrast, as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 11 , each upright inner tube 126 has been extended into a deployed position to increase the height of the uprights 114. This permits a single personal leaning apparatus 100 to be height-adjustable to accommodate users of various heights by simply retracting or deploying the upright inner tube 126 from the upright outer tube 124.

Turning to FIGS. 4-8 , shown therein is an embodiment in which the personal leaning apparatus 100 is height-adjustable and collapsible to permit easier storage. As described above with respect to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2-3 , the uprights 114 can be telescopically extended (FIG. 5 ) and retracted (FIG. 4 ) to permit height adjustment. In this embodiment, the upright assembly 104 also includes a pair of lockable upper hinges 132 that allow the support bars 122 to fold from a deployed position (shown in FIGS. 4-5 ) to a folded position (shown in FIGS. 6-8 ). The upper hinges 132 each include an upper hinge lock 134 that holds the support bars 122 in either the deployed position, the folded position, or in some intermediate position that permits the support bars 122 to be fixed in a declined orientation between horizontal (FIG. 5 ) and vertical (FIG. 6 ). In some embodiments, the upper hinge lock 134 includes a spring-loaded lock-button that engages with mating holes within the upper hinges 132. In other embodiments, the upper hinge lock 134 includes locking bolts or set screws.

In this embodiment, the uprights 114 are connected to the base assembly 102 with lower hinges 136. The lower hinges 136 permit the upright assembly 104 and engagement assembly 106 to be folded flat against the base assembly 102, as depicted in FIG. 7 . The lower hinges 136 each include a lower hinge lock 138 that holds the uprights 114 (or the upright outer tube 124 and upright inner tube 126) in either the deployed position (FIGS. 4-6 ) or the folded position (FIGS. 7-8 ). In some embodiments, the lower hinge lock 138 includes a spring-loaded lock-button that engages with mating holes within the lower hinges 136. In other embodiments, the lower hinge lock 138 includes locking bolts or set screws. The lower hinges 136 are affixed to the side members 108 through welding or other robust fasteners.

In this embodiment, each of the side members 108 includes a side member outer tube 140, a side member inner tube 142, and a base lock 144, which selectively locks and releases the side member inner tube 142 from engagement with the side member outer tube 140. The base lock 144 can be a spring-loaded lock-button on the side member inner tube 142 that selectively engages and disengages with a corresponding base lock aperture 146 on each of the side member outer tubes 140. The lower hinges 136 are affixed to the side member outer tubes 140 in this embodiment.

Thus, in FIG. 7 , the support bars 122 have been folded down within the upper hinges 132 such that the support bars 122 are collapsed against the uprights 114. The upright assembly 104 has been folded flat against the base assembly 102 with the lower hinges 136. The base locks 144 can then be released to permit each side member inner tube 142 to be shifted inside the corresponding side member outer tube 140 (FIG. 8 ). In this way, the personal leaning apparatus 100 can be retracted and collapsed into a compact, flat configuration that permits easier storage and transportation.

Turning to FIG. 12 , shown therein is an embodiment in which the personal leaning apparatus 100 is height-adjustable and collapsible, but omits the upper support bars 122. As described above with respect to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 4-8 , the uprights 114 can be telescopically extended and retracted to permit height adjustment. In this embodiment, the uprights 114 are connected to the base assembly 102 with lower hinges 136. The lower hinges 136 permit the upright assembly 104 and engagement assembly 106 to be folded flat against the base assembly 102, as depicted in FIG. 14 . The lower hinges 136 each include a lower hinge lock 138 that holds the uprights 114 (or the upright outer tube 124 and upright inner tube 126) in either the deployed position or the folded position, as previously illustrated. In some embodiments, the lower hinge lock 138 includes a spring-loaded lock-button that engages with mating holes within the lower hinges 136. In other embodiments, the lower hinge lock 138 includes locking bolts or set screws. The lower hinges 136 are affixed to the side members 108 through welding or other robust fasteners.

In this embodiment, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-8 , each of the side members 108 includes a side member outer tube 140, a side member inner tube 142, and a base lock 144, which selectively locks and releases the side member inner tube 142 from engagement with the side member outer tube 140. The base lock 144 can be a spring-loaded lock-button on the side member inner tube 142 that selectively engages and disengages with a corresponding base lock aperture 146 on each of the side member outer tubes 140. The lower hinges 136 are affixed to the side member outer tubes 140 in this embodiment.

Turning to FIG. 13 , shown therein is yet another embodiment in which the personal leaning apparatus 100 is configured to be collapsed for easier storage and transportation. In this embodiment, the center beam 120 and the cross members 110 each includes a central hinge 150 with a locking cap 152. The center beam 120 is connected to the upper portions 118 of the uprights 114 with lateral hinges 154. Similarly, lateral hinges 154 are also used to connect the cross members 110 to the side members 108. In this way, the center beam 120 and cross members 110 can be folded vertically to permit the approximation of the two uprights 114 and side members 108, or unfolded and locked with the locking cap 152 into the position depicted in FIG. 13 .

Turning to FIG. 14 , shown therein is yet another embodiment in which the personal leaning apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the personal leaning apparatus 100 includes upright hinges 156 disposed within the uprights 114 between the lower portion 116 and the upper portion 118. The upright hinges 156 permit the upper portion 118 of each upright 114 to be folded downward onto the respective lower portion 116. The personal leaning apparatus 100 further includes front and back leg hinges 158, 160 on each side member 108 that separates the side members 108 into front and back sections 162, 164. Each front section 162 folds along the front leg hinge 158 to the front side of the lower portion 116 of the upright 114. Each back section 164 folds along the back leg hinge 160 to the back side of the lower portion 116 of the uprights 114. In exemplary embodiments, the upright hinges 156 and leg hinges 158, 160 include locking mechanisms such as pins or cams that can be selectively engaged to lock the hinges in open and closed positions. Importantly, it will be appreciated that features from each of the various embodiments disclosed herein have been illustrated in combination with other features, but that additional combinations of these features are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is possible to incorporate the light modules 148 into any of the various embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-13 . Similarly, the support bars 122 can be included or omitted in each of the various embodiments. The support bars 122 can be included, as an example, in the laterally-collapsible embodiment depicted in FIG. 13 . Furthermore, the features that permit the personal leaning apparatus 100 to laterally collapse in FIG. 13 can be combined with the upper hinges 132 and/or lower hinges 136 depicted in FIGS. 4-8 to provide a highly compactable design.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functions of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to other systems without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, the apparatus comprising: a base assembly resting on the surface; an upright assembly, wherein the upright assembly comprises: a pair of uprights, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises: a lower portion connected to the base assembly; and an upper portion; and an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly comprises: a pair of side members, wherein the lower portion of the upright assembly is connected to the pair of side members; and a pair of cross members each extending between the pair of side members.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the engagement assembly further comprises a pair of support bars.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the pair of support bars is configured to be folded from an extended position to a collapsed position against a corresponding one of the pair of uprights.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the pair of support bars is connected to the corresponding one of the pair of uprights with an upper hinge.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the upper hinges includes an upper hinge lock.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the engagement assembly further comprises a center beam.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the center beam comprises: a central hinge; and a locking cap configured to selectively prevent the central hinge from folding.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises: an upright outer tube; and an upright inner tube inside the upright outer tube.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the upright inner tubes can be telescopically extended from the corresponding upright outer tube.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the pair of uprights includes an upright locking mechanism that secures the upright inner tube at a selected degree of extension from the upright outer tube.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the pair of uprights is connected to the base assembly with a lower hinge that permits each of the pair of uprights to fold into a collapsed position on the base assembly.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of lower hinges includes a lower hinge lock that selectively prevents or permits the pair of uprights from folding into a collapsed position on the base assembly.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the pair of side members comprises: a side member outer tube; and a side member inner tube extensibly contained within the corresponding side member outer tube.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the base assembly further comprises a base lock that selectively secures each side member inner tube at a selected degree of extension from the corresponding side member outer tube.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a light module that illuminates a portion of the base assembly.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base assembly comprises an opening to permit a person to stand inside the base assembly.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises an upright hinge between the lower portion and the upper portion.
 19. An apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, the apparatus comprising: a base assembly resting on the surface; an upright assembly, wherein the upright assembly comprises: a pair of uprights, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises: a lower portion connected to the base assembly; and an upper portion; and an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights.
 20. An apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, the apparatus comprising: a foldable base assembly resting on the surface; a collapsible and extensible upright assembly, wherein the upright assembly comprises: a pair of uprights, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises: a lower portion connected to the base assembly; and an upper portion; and an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights, wherein the engagement assembly comprises a pair of collapsible support bars. 